Cool Mom Picks

Saturday 07 November

Pixorial - Ushering back the return of the Betamax

Pixorial video card Some of my favorite memories: Seeing Paris when I was 8. My senior year dance performance. Bungee jumping off a crane over the Hudson River. And they're all saved on video tape. ... [More]

Friday 06 November

Trying Funny Stuff makes me want my kids music with extra Jimmies

The Jimmies Trying Funny Stuff I don't want my kids to grow up listening to lame, easy-listening music which is why The Jimmies' fun-rock songs have been on heavy rotation since we got Make Your Own Someday, their first CD, a couple of years ago. A ... [More]

Sunday 01 November

They grow up so fast. Don't take bad pictures.

Forget the baby monitor or motorized swing, what I really could have used when my kids were little was photographer and dad Nick Kelsh's entertaining and smart new DVD, How to Photograph Your Baby, a companion to the book by the same name. ... [More]

Friday 23 October

Breaking News - Baby Einstein is issuing full refunds on their DVDs

If you've purchased a Baby Einstein DVD any time in the last five years, you're entitled to a full refund, thanks to the work of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood which thinks that mayyyybe they don't exactly make babies into Einsteins. ... [More]

Tuesday 15 September

We're off to see the wizard. Yes, that one.

The Wizard of Oz One of my favorite aspects of parenting has to be watching my favorite classic movies with my kids for the first time just like I did with my parents. Except we saw them on the big screen back then. And no, I'm not talking about a gihugic plasma. ... [More]

Saturday 12 September

Won't you be my neighbor? Heck, yeah!

I firmly believe that anyone who does not love Mr. Rogers has no soul. So when I got word that PBS Kids is hooking up the next generation with my own generation's favorite TV icon, I was so happy, I took off my shoes and put on some sneakers in solidarity. ... [More]

Friday 11 September

Making mother smile - peace picks for 9/11

smiling planet tee Smiling Planet is one of those little companies that just makes you happy. Now they've taken the charming Antoine de Saint-Exupéry-esque illustrations from the Smiling Planet book and turned them into adorable tees for kids. ... [More]

Thursday 10 September

Disneynature EARTH is out of this world

My kids expected another silly cartoon as we settled in to watch Disneynature: EARTH, but their quiet focus told me that, even without talking zebras, the night's selection had been a hit. ... [More]

Monday 27 July

Learning disguised as catchy pop songs, cool characters, and charming illustrations.

Readeez Children's DVD We don't own a lot of kids' DVD's in my house, primarily since it's so hard to know if we will get our money's worth or they will be watched twice before my daughter gets bored and just wants to throw the disk around. ... [More]

Wednesday 08 July

Common Sense Media: Because not every parent finds fart jokes hilarious

My oldest daughter is now firmly planted in PG-movie territory which means I really have to pay attention to what she is seeing, reading and listening to---hopefully without having to actually watch, read and listen to it all myself. ... [More]

Saturday 04 July

Home of the Brave, the Furry and the Grouchy

PBS' A Capitol Fourth With a little one who hates loud noises and falls asleep before 9, seeing big Fourth of July fireworks has become one of those "maybe next year" dreams we tell his older siblings. ... [More]